Miss Marion pageant will return May 3
The City of Marion is sponsoring the Miss Marion Pageant, set for Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Lincoln Auditorium, located at the corner of Lee and Lincoln Streets in Marion. The pageant will feature five age divisions: Tiny Marion (ages 2–5) Little Miss Marion (ages 6–9) Pre-Teen Marion (ages 10–12) Miss Teen... Read More
Oak Grove Augustine plans ‘Gospel Explosion’ fundraiser for May 16
Oak Grove Augustine Baptist Church will host a Gospel Explosion Fundraiser on Saturday, May 16, at the Selma Convention Center, 211 Washington Street, Selma. Doors open at noon, with the event running from 1 to 5 p.m. The church is pastored by Bishop Dr. J.L. Davis. Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased via... Read More
Grant program seeks local legends, ghost stories for roadside markers
Communities with a folktale, ghost story, or local legend to preserve may be able to get it recognized with a roadside marker through a grant program administered by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The application deadline is April 27. The foundation’s Legends & Lore marker program funds the research, fabrication, and installation of cast-iron roadside... Read More
Jimmy L. Jones
Jimmy L. Jones, 62, of Uniontown, died on March 14, 2026. He was born July 12, 1963. Jones was a graduate of R.C. Hatch High School. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 21, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church, Cahaba Road, Uniontown. Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Flowers Family... Read More
Proposed amendment would allow multi-county school board consolidation
The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on March 3 that would allow county school boards to consolidate across county lines. HB 380, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, is a state constitutional amendment that would permit two or more county school boards to merge into a single multi-county board of education. “They could... Read More
Niche names MMI state’s top community college 
Marion Military Institute has been ranked the number one community college in Alabama in Niche.com’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings, and placed 11th among all community colleges in the United States. Niche, a Pittsburgh-based platform used by more than 70 million people annually, bases its rankings on federal data from the U.S. Department of Education and... Read More
Muckle’s Ridge Festival will return to Marion May 2, vendor signups open
The Muckle’s Ridge Festival is returning to the Perry County Courthouse Square in historic downtown Marion on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly festival, which has not been held in more than a decade, will feature live music on the courthouse steps and a food truck row. Car clubs, motorcycle clubs and musicians are also being invited to participate. Vendor and food... Read More
Perry leads Alabama in gas prices, and the gap is growing
Motorists in Perry County are paying more at the pump than anywhere else in Alabama, a pattern that has persisted for months and widened sharply in recent weeks as a surge in global oil prices drives up costs statewide. According to AAA data, Perry County’s average price for regular unleaded stood at $3.40 per gallon... Read More
Johnny Earl Bennett
Johnny Earl Bennett, 72, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at his granddaughter’s home, with his wife by his side. Johnny was born July 19, 1953, in Perry County, to William Glenwood and Emma Bell Bennett. He spent his life as a hardworking man who took pride in providing for his family. He worked... Read More
Perry organization receives $370,875 grant for business incubator
A Perry County organization has been awarded a $370,875 grant through the Innovate Alabama Network program to establish the Harris Business Incubator, a small business development facility planned for downtown Marion. The incubator will be located adjacent to the Harris Technology Hub at 401 Washington Street and is intended to provide entrepreneurs with co-working and... Read More